E36 M3 Buying Guide

[m3f_Pierre i am]

If I remember correctly it was the e30 M3's that sat on dealer lots for years because people didn't want them. At least in the US

some LTW's sat for awhile at dealers and were sold at discounts lol

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

If I remember correctly it was the e30 M3's that sat on dealer lots for years because people didn't want them. At least in the US

I think that was because the price was such a premium over a standard E30. They figured out the pricing on the E36 M3 and they sold really well because of it. Least that is my understanding.

[m3f_Pierre i am]

I think that was because the price was such a premium over a standard E30. They figured out the pricing on the E36 M3 and they sold really well because of it. Least that is my understanding.

Sort of.



The US wasn't supposed to get the e36 m3 at all because the sales were poor for the e30 m3 and the cost of the euro spec e36 m3 was so high.



A group of BMW CCA members created a letter/petition and basically begged BMW to bring the car to NA. BMW reluctantly did but they thought that the only way they could sell the car was if they reduced the cost by a substantial amount.



This is why the US spec car has a different engine than the Euro spec car as well as other little things that are missing.



TBH without the US spec e36 being semi-successful we probably would of never have gotten the E46 and subsequent gens.

[m3f_johnbennett103]

They got the bad rap for being the first high volume M3, but if you own and drive one, you find that they are a good combination of weight, power and utility. Good to see that they are finally getting the respect they deserve.

[m3f_bimmervish]

I have been holding on to a 4-door E36 and it is a dream car. Overhauled the engine and it is bulletproof and all mint! Not sure if I should hold on to it or sell it?

[m3f_lcrain]

I have been holding on to a 4-door E36 and it is a dream car. Overhauled the engine and it is bulletproof and all mint! Not sure if I should hold on to it or sell it?

If you enjoy the car, I see no reason to sell it unless you either need the money or the space. The market has been on the up and up, and while I don't see it becoming astronomical I am of the opinion that you will not lose money owning and enjoying these cars at this point.



I want to add another.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

oh look M_Parallel talking shit about the US spec e36 m3 on a US based forum. I'm shocked

I didn't say anything shit.



Maybe you don't like to read it, but that doesn't automatically means it's shit.



Not even sure why this is such a touchy subject for no one, except Americans who own a US E36 M3.

[m3f_Bimma360]

I didn't say anything shit.



Maybe you don't like to read it, but that doesn't automatically means it's shit.



Not even sure why this is such a touchy subject for no one, except Americans who own a US E36 M3.

Honestly, I really only see it being a touchy subject for some when its coming from you. Maybe that tells you something haha.

[m3f_Braymond141]

I'm not opposed to calling the US motor out for what it is and isn't. Not a huge fan myself aside from ease of maintenance and reliability... otherwise it is dull.


The cars as a whole aren't really Apples versus Oranges though.

[m3f_englishtom1596q]

I have been holding on to a 4-door E36 and it is a dream car. Overhauled the engine and it is bulletproof and all mint! Not sure if I should hold on to it or sell it?

I'd hold onto it, drive it and keep it WELL maintained. The cost is going up and you'll never lose on it. If you sell now you'll be kicking yourself in 10-15 years when you could potentially get 20-30% more. I sold my really nice 99 right before the market trended back up and kick myself because right now it would have been worth about 18k

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Honestly, I really only see it being a touchy subject for some when its coming from you. Maybe that tells you something haha.

You never see my complain?



But seriously though. I have never called the S52 bad or shit. There is nothing wrong with it on its own.



Only when you campare it to the Euro plant, then it looses out.



And on another note. This article is from a UK magazine, about the Euro model.



All I said to the guy who was happy he bought one (US), was that based on a EU model article, that does not apply.



He might as well have said that he was happy he bought a Chevy Pinto. This seems incomprehensible to some, just because both cars here happen to be BMW's and E36's and M3's.



Then see half the US owners jump on my neck for "bashing" the US car.



If you want to call me out, do as you please, but read first before playing me the Pavlov reflex and played out "oh it's him talking shit again" card again.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

I'm not opposed to calling the US motor out for what it is and isn't. Not a huge fan myself aside from ease of maintenance and reliability... otherwise it is dull.



The cars as a whole aren't really Apples versus Oranges though.

The thing is, yes they are both BMW's, E36's and M3's and are, like what, 90% identical?



But it's that 10% that makes it a totally different car/experience.



Now while my M52 328i isn't exactly a US S52, it's closer to it as it's to my M3.



And since both are convertibles the comparison is more than fair. I'm basically looking at nearly the same cars, yet both are so different. That's where my above statement is based on.



Maybe it's 85%/15% for my 328i vs M3.

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

You never see my complain?



All I said to the guy who was happy he bought one (US), was that based on a EU model article, that does not apply.



He might as well have said that he was happy he bought a Chevy Pinto. This seems incomprehensible to some, just because both cars here happen to be BMW's and E36's and M3's.

I am happy I bought mine when I did. Perhaps, as you say, the article does not apply to U.S. models. The engines are not the same and I think everyone will agree the Euro model got the better deal. But the U.S. model is still a blast to drive and are going up in price. So I'm happy I paid $11K for a very clean low mileage car just a couple years ago that would cost me closer to $18K today (or more).

I think the U.S. vs. Euro argument is worn out. Anyone that thinks the U.S. model is the same as the Euro model just does not know the difference. Anyone that knows the difference knows the Euro car is better. Otherwise why would so many forum members be swapping the S54 into their cars. Anyway, I like my car U.S. version or not.

[Obioban]

I would suspect the article does not apply to SMG vert e36s, either

(in terms of value going up)

[m3f_M_Parallel]

I would suspect the article does not apply to SMG vert e36s, either

(in terms of value going up)

I really don't care about value going up. If it does, fine, if it doesn't fine. I never bought mine as an investment object. Nor to even sell.



Having said that, every E36 M3 here, nomatter what model or gearbox, has gone up in price. If I would ever sell it, I wouldn't lose a penny on it (of course maintenance, fuel, etc not counted).



Verts were never the most sought after. If I'd have bought one as an investment object, I would've gotten something else.



On a little side note, reading the many SMG2 topics, it's funny how the SMG2 actually suffers from more problems than the SMG1.